When [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and his companions returned from the Coronation of [[Aragorn II|Elessar]], they found their homeland to be under the dominion of [[Ruffians]]. These Men had been pouring into the Shire since late [[Third Age 3018|3018]], and were under the command of "the Chief", or "[[Sharkey]]", who outlawed everything that the Hobbits held dear; food and [[:Category:Inns|inns]] most notably. It did not take [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]], [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] and [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] long to violate several rules:

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When [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and his companions returned from the Coronation of [[Aragorn|Elessar]], they found their homeland to be under the dominion of [[Ruffians]]. These Men had been pouring into the Shire since late {{TA|3018|n}},<ref>{{RK|Homeward}}</ref> and were under the command of "the Chief", or "[[Sharkey]]", who outlawed everything that the Hobbits held dear; food and inns most notably. It did not take [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]], [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] and [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] long to violate several rules:

<blockquote>''You're arrested for Gate-breaking, and Tearin up of Rules, and Assaulting Gatekeepers, and Tresspassing, and Sleeping in Shire-buildings without Leave, and Bribing Guards with Food.''</blockquote>

<blockquote>''You're arrested for Gate-breaking, and Tearin up of Rules, and Assaulting Gatekeepers, and Tresspassing, and Sleeping in Shire-buildings without Leave, and Bribing Guards with Food.''</blockquote>

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The four Hobbits were arrested, but managed to talk themselves out of custody, and subsequently rally the Hobbits to overthrow the Chief. A small group of Men was encountered, and Pippin declared the return of the King to them, and the message that emissaries were on their way. When he was scoffed, he declared himself the emissary, as he wasn't released from Elessar's service yet. The group was routed, but managed to get a message to a bigger contigent in [[Waymeet]].

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The four Hobbits were arrested, but managed to talk themselves out of custody, and subsequently rally the Hobbits to overthrow the Chief. A small group of Men was encountered, and Pippin declared the return of the King to them, and the message that emissaries were on their way. When he was scoffed, he declared himself the emissary, as he was not released from Elessar's service yet. The group was routed, but managed to get a message to a bigger contigent in [[Waymeet]].<ref name="Scouring">{{RK|Scouring}}</ref>

===Battle===

===Battle===

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Line 35:

When the Men came, they did not expect a trap. They walked up [[Bywater Road]], to the point where [[Tolman Cotton Senior|Farmer Cotton]] was standing. They threatened him, but found themselves heavily outnumbered, and as the hobbits closed the barricade behind them, also surrounded. Their leader fell by arrows as he tried to strike at Merry. The rest surrendered.

When the Men came, they did not expect a trap. They walked up [[Bywater Road]], to the point where [[Tolman Cotton Senior|Farmer Cotton]] was standing. They threatened him, but found themselves heavily outnumbered, and as the hobbits closed the barricade behind them, also surrounded. Their leader fell by arrows as he tried to strike at Merry. The rest surrendered.

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The larger group of Men from Waymeet arrived the following day. In the meantime, Pippin had set up a rebellion in [[Tookland]], and returned with one hundred Tooks. Merry set up a defensive pocket on a heavily banked part of the Bywater Road. The Men walked straight into the pocket. Some surrendered, some escaped, and about twenty broke out. Six men and two hobbits were killed. The others now became desperate, and didn't care about escaping, only killing. The banks proved too steep to climb, and many fell before Hobbit axes. Merry and Pippin charged from the eastern bank, and Merry killed the leader.

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The larger group of Men from Waymeet arrived the following day. In the meantime, Pippin had set up a rebellion in [[Tookland]], and returned with one hundred Tooks. Merry set up a defensive pocket on a heavily banked part of the Bywater Road. The Men walked straight into the pocket. Some surrendered, some escaped, and about twenty broke out. Six men and two hobbits were killed. The others now became desperate, and didn't care about escaping, only killing. The banks proved too steep to climb, and many fell before Hobbit axes. Merry and Pippin charged from the eastern bank, and Merry killed the leader.<ref name="Scouring"/>

===Aftermath===

===Aftermath===

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In the end, nearly seventy Men were killed and twelve were taken prisoner, while nineteen Hobbits died and about 30 were wounded. The dead Men were buried in a nearby sand-pit that came to be called the Battle Pit. The Hobbits were buried separately, and a stone was placed on their grave with a garden around it. A Roll was made of the names of all the Hobbits who fought in the Battle of Bywater, with Captains Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took listed at the top.

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In the end, nearly seventy Men were killed and twelve were taken prisoner, while nineteen Hobbits died and about 30 were wounded. The dead Men were buried in a nearby sand-pit that came to be called the [[Battle Pit]]. The Hobbits were buried separately, and a stone was placed on their grave with a garden around it. A Roll was made of the names of all the Hobbits who fought in the Battle of Bywater, with Captains Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took listed at the top.

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After the victory at Bywater, the Hobbits marched on to [[Bag End]], where they found Sharkey.

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After the victory at Bywater, the Hobbits marched on to [[Bag End]], where they found Sharkey. It was not [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins|Lotho]] as had been thought, but rather [[Saruman]]. Saruman was ordered away by Frodo, and Saruman revealed that his servant [[Gríma]] killed Lotho. Gríma cut Saruman's throat in a rage for years of oppression and abuse, but was himself shot by Hobbit archers. As the spirit of Saruman rose from its bodily form, it was blown away by a wind from the West; [[Manwë]] did not want him back.<ref name="Scouring"/>

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It was not [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins|Lotho]] as had been thought, but rather [[Saruman]]. Saruman was ordered away by Frodo, and Saruman revealed that his servant [[Gríma Wormtongue|Gríma]] killed Lotho. Gríma cut Saruman's throat in a rage for years of oppression and abuse, but was himself shot by Hobbit archers. As the spirit of Saruman rose from its bodily form, it was blown away by a wind from the West; [[Manwë]] did not want him back.

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The following year, preparations were made to restore the damage done by Saruman. Sam spread the blessed soil from [[Sam's garden box|the box of Galadriel]], and planted the [[mallorn]]-seed where once the [[The Party Tree]] had stood. 1420, by Shire Reckoning, became one of the best harvest years ever.

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The following year, preparations were made to restore the damage done by Saruman. Sam spread the blessed soil from [[Sam's garden box|the box of Galadriel]], and planted the [[mallorn]]-seed where once the [[The Party Tree]] had stood. 1420, by Shire Reckoning, became one of the best harvest years ever.<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==

==Portrayal in adaptations==

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Due to the anti-climactic nature of the battle, both the [[Rankin/Bass' The Return of the King|Rankin/Bass]] and the [[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King|Peter Jackson]] movies left out the Battle of Bywater.

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'''1981: [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1981 radio series)]]:'''

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:The Scouring of the Shire appeared in abridged form. The arrest by the Shirriffs is omitted, as is the second part of the battle.

Contents

History

Prelude

When Frodo and his companions returned from the Coronation of Elessar, they found their homeland to be under the dominion of Ruffians. These Men had been pouring into the Shire since late 3018,[1] and were under the command of "the Chief", or "Sharkey", who outlawed everything that the Hobbits held dear; food and inns most notably. It did not take Merry, Pippin and Sam long to violate several rules:

You're arrested for Gate-breaking, and Tearin up of Rules, and Assaulting Gatekeepers, and Tresspassing, and Sleeping in Shire-buildings without Leave, and Bribing Guards with Food.

The four Hobbits were arrested, but managed to talk themselves out of custody, and subsequently rally the Hobbits to overthrow the Chief. A small group of Men was encountered, and Pippin declared the return of the King to them, and the message that emissaries were on their way. When he was scoffed, he declared himself the emissary, as he was not released from Elessar's service yet. The group was routed, but managed to get a message to a bigger contigent in Waymeet.[2]

Battle

As twenty Men from Hobbiton marched towards Bywater, 200 Bucklanders answered the call of Captain Merry's horn. In Bywater, barricades were set up at the command of Merry. Meanwhile, the Cottons also joined the group.

When the Men came, they did not expect a trap. They walked up Bywater Road, to the point where Farmer Cotton was standing. They threatened him, but found themselves heavily outnumbered, and as the hobbits closed the barricade behind them, also surrounded. Their leader fell by arrows as he tried to strike at Merry. The rest surrendered.

The larger group of Men from Waymeet arrived the following day. In the meantime, Pippin had set up a rebellion in Tookland, and returned with one hundred Tooks. Merry set up a defensive pocket on a heavily banked part of the Bywater Road. The Men walked straight into the pocket. Some surrendered, some escaped, and about twenty broke out. Six men and two hobbits were killed. The others now became desperate, and didn't care about escaping, only killing. The banks proved too steep to climb, and many fell before Hobbit axes. Merry and Pippin charged from the eastern bank, and Merry killed the leader.[2]

Aftermath

In the end, nearly seventy Men were killed and twelve were taken prisoner, while nineteen Hobbits died and about 30 were wounded. The dead Men were buried in a nearby sand-pit that came to be called the Battle Pit. The Hobbits were buried separately, and a stone was placed on their grave with a garden around it. A Roll was made of the names of all the Hobbits who fought in the Battle of Bywater, with Captains Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took listed at the top.

After the victory at Bywater, the Hobbits marched on to Bag End, where they found Sharkey. It was not Lotho as had been thought, but rather Saruman. Saruman was ordered away by Frodo, and Saruman revealed that his servant Gríma killed Lotho. Gríma cut Saruman's throat in a rage for years of oppression and abuse, but was himself shot by Hobbit archers. As the spirit of Saruman rose from its bodily form, it was blown away by a wind from the West; Manwë did not want him back.[2]

The following year, preparations were made to restore the damage done by Saruman. Sam spread the blessed soil from the box of Galadriel, and planted the mallorn-seed where once the The Party Tree had stood. 1420, by Shire Reckoning, became one of the best harvest years ever.[3]